Lady Hale Makes History As First Female President Of The Supreme Court

02 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by Natasha in Judges, Researching Reform

Baroness Hale, the architect behind the Children Act 1989 – a central piece of legislation that put children at the heart of family law cases – has made history today, becoming the first ever woman President of the UK Supreme Court.

Whilst Baroness Hale had been tipped to be the new President in July of this year, she was sworn in to office today, officially taking up her position as President.

The Supreme Court’s website announced the nomination on 21st July, confirming Baroness Hale’s appointment and the date of her ceremony, Monday 2nd October. She is joined by new appointees to the Court, Lady Justice Black, Lord Justice Lloyd-Jones and Lord Justice Briggs.

Lady Hale’s biography offers some interesting information about her, but she remains one of our favourite judges for the work she has pioneered in the Family Court, which has consistently pushed the boundaries of the family justice system’s understanding of children and its remit to put them first in every case.

We wish her many congratulations.

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Question It!

02 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by Natasha in Question It, Researching Reform

≈ 10 Comments

Welcome to another week.

Australia has just announced that it is launching a full scale review into its Family Justice System.

Like the Family Justice System in England and Wales, it has been criticised for being “painstakingly slow and prohibitively expensive” with concerns raised over the way in which victims are treated and children routinely ignored by a system unable to cope with demand.

Federal Attorney-General George Brandis described the review, which will be run by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC), as “necessary and long overdue”.

Brandis goes on to say:

“The review of the family law system will be broad and far reaching, focusing on key areas of importance to Australian families…

These include ensuring the family law system prioritises the best interests of children, best addresses family violence and child abuse, and supports families, including those with complex needs, to resolve their family law disputes quickly and safely while minimising the financial burden.”

Advocates of the review are concerned that it might be dominated by cost cutting issues, and are hoping that access to justice and the safety of victims and children in the family law system are prioritised.

Opposition members in Australia are calling for urgent action to improve the system immediately and cross bench senator Pauline Hanson, a vocal campaigner on improving the family law system has called on the government to abolish the Family Court altogether.

Our question to you then, is just this: would you like to see a full scale review of the Family Justice System in England and Wales?

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Ethics Of Adoption: Enquiry Findings To Be Published ‘Before Christmas’

02 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by Natasha in Inquiry, Researching Reform

≈ 8 Comments

The British Association Of Social Work (BASW) is to publish its report on the state of the adoption sector at the end of this year.

The Enquiry, which was launched by the BASW in 2016, has been looking into adoption in England and Wales, the role social work should play in the adoption process and ethics surrounding the practice.

As part of its review, the Enquiry was tasked with examining the non consensual nature of adoption, which is often referred to as forced adoption, social workers’ involvement in the practice of removing children from parents without their consent and the ethical and human rights issues attached.

Researching Reform took to Twitter to ask the BASW and Maggie Mellon, who is a member of the Enquiry’s Steering Group, if they could offer any update on the Enquiry, which had not published any further information since its launch.

Maggie very kindly responded to us on Twitter.

Maggie Mellon, an outspoken and talented social worker who has in the past invited the profession to look at alternative ways of working with families inside the child protection system – like this insightful piece on the impact of current culture and practice inside the system which demonises parents – appeared to suggest that the findings would be launched before Christmas.

Maggie’s tweet does confirm that an update will be published shortly, which we will share once it’s live.

Many thanks to Tom Perkins for gently nudging us about this Enquiry.